Scoop City: Inside The NFL

Episode: Has Jalen Hurts, Eagles offense improved after improbable win vs Rams + Justin Herbert continues MVP campaign with win over Broncos

Date: September 23, 2025
Hosts: James Palmer, Diana Russini, Chase Daniel

Overview:

This episode dives deep into key NFL storylines from Week 3 of the 2025 season. The panel analyzes the Philadelphia Eagles’ improbable comeback over the Rams and evaluates the evolution of Jalen Hurts and the team’s offense. Justin Herbert’s impressive, MVP-caliber run with the Chargers is dissected, alongside the performances and prospects of Caleb Williams, Baker Mayfield, Daniel Jones, and more. The show maintains a candid, bantering tone as the hosts blend insider reporting, expert QB breakdowns, and locker room stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights:

1. Caleb Williams Has His "Coming Out" NFL Game

Segment Start: 07:00

• Bears beat the Cowboys 31-14: Caleb Williams passed for almost 300 yards and threw four touchdowns to four different players.
• Chase Daniel on Williams:
  • "I thought this was his best game as a professional athlete and quite honestly, it wasn't close." (08:24)
  • Chicago’s 19-play, 11-run drive was a display of the new attitude under OC Ben Johnson: “It tells me like Ben Johnson, he's trying to force—not force—but he's trying to create an atmosphere of competitiveness and toughness.” (08:24)
• Creation & Confidence:
  • Chase highlighted Williams’ increasing patience and poise, crediting improved O-line protection and Johnson’s play design.
  • Diana: “The growth is small. But you start stringing these together... maybe have a solid Bears team here.” (10:29)
• Collaboration with Ben Johnson:
  James Palmer described the on-field chemistry: “There’s a collaboration… Caleb Williams gave Ben Johnson a game ball in the locker room. The emotion… was so genuine.” (13:08)
• Comparison: Early-career Mahomes/Andy Reid dynamic mentioned as a parallel; Williams thrives when allowed to improvise but must keep growing within structure.
• Key Quote:
  Chase Daniel: “The worst thing you can do as a young head coach… is take [a playmaker’s] stinger away.” (14:08)

2. Jalen Hurts and the Eagles Passing Offense: Fixed or Facade?

Segment Start: 14:40

• Eagles defeat Rams in dramatic comeback. Entered game with league’s weakest passing output for a 2-0 team since 2010.
• First Half: “About as poor a first half as I've seen Jaylen Hurts play… when it comes to throwing the football.” (15:55)
  Offensive line injuries and blitz pressure hampered Hurts; struggled with empty sets and indecision.
• Second Half Transformation:
  • Eagles switched tackles; Hurts calmed down after early completions; deep ball to AJ Brown changed momentum.
  • “When Hertz is throwing the football down the field, that's when he's best because he is accurate down the field.” (17:06)
• Diana: “The Eagles have won 17 straight when Jaylen Hertz has started and finished a game… They do have that magic this year. They don't panic at all.” (19:04)
• Skepticism over Consistency:
  Chase compared the Eagles’ current habit of “barely winning games” to past Philly and Chiefs squads, warning that eventually, teams might “figure them out.” (20:41)
• Playcalling:
  Eagles offense described as “vanilla, very vanilla” at the moment (22:00); need more diversity/chocolate for playoff runs, especially as teams dare Hurts to win with his arm.
• Locker Room Culture:
  Diana noted: “I've enjoyed the locker room cheering and the tunnel interactions more than ever… They're everywhere. So… I wind up liking them more after I see these videos.” (24:28)

3. Justin Herbert’s MVP Campaign and the New Chargers

Segment Start: 24:58

• Chargers start 3-0: All divisional wins, all requiring late-game execution.
• Herbert’s “New Look”:
  • Off-field confidence noted (“F.U. tattooed on his head”), “He just doesn’t care. Like, the Honey Badger don’t care.” (25:49)
  • Wife noticed: “He’s actually wearing jeans and a cool T-shirt… famous girlfriend?” (25:49)
• Herbert’s On-Field Growth:
  • "They're unleashing Justin Herbert… Most important fact of the matter is they are 3–0 with three division wins." (25:49)
  • Defense is performing despite big injuries. Offense now features three reliable receivers (Quentin Johnston, Lad McConkey, Keenan Allen).
  • Chase: “It feels like they’re a top three to four team in the NFL right now.” (28:12)
• Greg Roman’s Transformation:
  • James: “One of the most entertaining things we're seeing this NFL season is Greg Roman changing his stripes and being aggressive down the field.” (28:35)
  • Offense is built to attack at all three levels; Roman is finally adjusting the scheme to match star talent.
  • Diana: “Now it seems Greg Roman… is recognizing… we've got a killer quarterback here.”

4. Russell Wilson, Jackson Dart, and the Giants QB Dilemma

Segment Start: 33:36

• Russell Wilson’s struggles continue: Diana: “They’re not winning games with Russ.” (35:00)
• Crowd is chanting for rookie Jackson Dart. Chase pushes for change: “The time was now… what is the point… in continuing with Russell Wilson?” (36:21)
• Diana: Giants want to manage rookie Dart’s debut carefully. "The more we don't see him, the more the hype builds… it’s almost unfair to him.” (37:04)
• Chase argues only game reps build NFL QBs: “You cannot get better in this league as a rookie quarterback in practice… You have to throw him in the fire and see how he reacts.” (38:40)
• The New York market is uniquely tough, and the organization is weighing Dart’s readiness for that pressure.

5. Redemption Stories: Carson Wentz and the Minnesota Vikings

Segment Start: 41:09

• Wentz starts for injured J.J. McCarthy, gets a win for the team he grew up rooting for.
• Chase: “He had a really good first year, and then 17 until that Rams game, he was MVP. But… he's been sort of on the street.” (41:09)
• Minnesota kept confidence all week; coaching staff prepared Wentz well. Diana: “Vikings… do a really good job of getting their quarterbacks ready, obviously. But also just from a confidence factor, they were not sweating this at all.” (43:33)
• Decision moving forward:
  Wentz likely a stopgap; McCarthy’s job when healthy. But Wentz’s story is a “full circle” moment, with social media photo of him praying with his family drawing empathy for his journey. (42:40)

6. Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers’ Surging Start

Segment Start: 46:32

• Baker Mayfield, Bucs are 3–0 after clutch wins:
  Diana on Baker’s candor in postgame: “He wanted to beat his former coach who cut him… he just put it out there. I love that.” (47:05)
• Chase: "He's, like, revitalized his career. He's a top 10 quarterback the way he's playing right now… he is just… that mentally strong.” (47:37)
• Comparison:
  Mayfield as “Clint Eastwood,” then Liam Neeson—always looking for revenge. Emphasizes Baker’s mental edge and chip on his shoulder.
• Coaching Credit:
  James flips the usual OC praise: “Let’s give Baker a little bit of credit … now Baker’s doing it with a third different offensive coordinator in three years.” (51:51)
• Diana (joking, MVP nod): “I think we give them an early MVP nod. I think. I think we go early.” (52:39)

7. Daniel Jones and the Colts: For Real?

Segment Start: 55:49

• Colts are 3–0 behind Daniel Jones:
  Chase: “They only have one punt [in three games], averaging 34 points per game, second in the NFL… zero turnovers.” (56:27)
• Steichen finally has a QB to run his scheme; Daniel Jones' mobile traits paired with healthy Jonathan Taylor create a dynamic offense.
• Diana: “Think about what that's like for Daniel Jones... what he went through in New York... all of this is just going to continue to add to what I think could be the best version of Daniel Jones.” (58:31)
• Jonathan Taylor compared to Saquon Barkley—key to Jones’ resurgence.
• Tyler Warren’s impact:
  James: “The way he moves around the field at all different positions… it's just harder for defenses to key in on him.” (61:08)

8. 49ers’ Resilience Amid Injuries

Segment Start: 61:56

• San Francisco 49ers are 3–0, despite injuries to Bosa, Ayuk, Kittle, and even QB Brock Purdy.
• Diana: “I still don’t think that the 49ers are dominant in any area. Yet they're winning.” (62:25)
• Mac Jones’ fill-in efforts, rookie Ricky Pearsall’s emergence (third in NFL in receiving, 14 first downs).
• James: “Maybe they’re just sustaining things until they can get healthy. So keep your eye on those San Francisco 49ers.” (66:12)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Caleb Williams:
  “You can’t take their stinger away... At the end of the day, that is what makes Caleb special.”
  —Chase Daniel, 14:08

• On Jalen Hurts:
  “About as poor a first half as I've seen Jaylen Hurts play... then something clicked.”
  —Chase Daniel, 15:55
  “They do have that magic this year. They don't panic at all.”
  —Diana Russini, 19:04

• On Justin Herbert:
  “He’s just got that, like, sort of FU tattooed on his head... The way he's doing it is just impressive... putting the team on his back.”
  —Chase Daniel, 25:49 “Greg Roman is changing his stripes and being aggressive down the field.”
  —James Palmer, 28:35

• On Russell Wilson/Jackson Dart:
  “The time was now… what is the point… in continuing with Russell Wilson?”
  —Chase Daniel, 36:21
  “You cannot get better in this league as a rookie quarterback in practice... You have to throw him in the fire.”
  —Chase Daniel, 38:40

• On Baker Mayfield:
  “He's a top 10 quarterback the way he's playing right now… just the mental part of the game…”
  —Chase Daniel, 47:37
  “Let’s give Baker a little bit of credit... Baker got both those guys jobs.”
  —James Palmer, 51:51

Additional Quick Hits & Fun Moments

• Chase Daniel's scoop: Arch Manning’s high school password was “ChaseDaniel2” (06:29)
• Banter about Eagles’ “vanilla” offense and what flavor is needed for Super Bowl contention (22:00)
• Mayfield’s Hollywood character comparisons: Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson, and even Forrest Gump accents
• On Daniel Jones:
  “If he's got the right coaches, protection, and Jonathan Taylor... this could be the best version of Daniel Jones.”
  —Diana Russini, 58:31
• Ricky Pearsall’s breakout for a wounded 49ers offense (66:12)

Episode Timestamps (Approximate)

• [03:19] College QB storytime: Arch Manning and “ChaseDaniel2”
• [07:00] Caleb Williams’ breakout performance and Chicago’s offensive turn
• [14:40] Eagles-Rams recap & the state of Jalen Hurts’ passing game
• [24:58] Justin Herbert’s MVP-level play and new Chargers offense
• [33:36] Giants QB debate: Russell Wilson vs Jackson Dart
• [41:09] Carson Wentz, J.J. McCarthy injury, and Vikings’ win
• [46:32] Baker Mayfield, Bucs’ 3-0 start, and mental toughness
• [55:49] Colts, Daniel Jones, and offensive surprises
• [61:56] 49ers’ resilience amid injuries, rookie Ricky Pearsall’s emergence

Tone & Final Thoughts

Scoop City maintains an energetic, authentic NFL-insider vibe with friendly banter, blunt analysis, and a “quarterback’s eye” focus courtesy of ex-QB Chase Daniel. The episode intertwines big-picture trends (emergence of new QBs, coordinator flexibility, NFL team cultures) with razor-sharp breakdowns, locker-room anecdotes, and a running sense of humor.

Don’t miss:

• The hosts’ contrasting takes on Jalen Hurts’ development and the Eagles’ true ceiling
• Early MVP candidacy hot takes for Justin Herbert and Baker Mayfield
• Vivid color: the impact of locker room culture, confidence, and team chemistry on early-season success

For more behind-the-scenes scoops and deep-dive NFL analysis, catch Scoop City live every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.